Blazers making a comeback in school uniforms

SCHOOLS are increasingly switching to smarter blazers and ties rather than casual sweatshirts, a report has revealed.

Three in four of the 3,800 secondary schools in the UK now adopt a blazer as part of the uniform along with four in five of the 2,100 academies, according to schoolwear supplier Trutex.

Department of Education data backs up the trend, reporting a 40 per cent upsurge in the number of schools requiring pupils to dress in a more formal manner in the past ten years.

While blazers, shirts and ties are increasingly popular, changing fashions have meant the wearing of hats is on the decline with fewer than 10 per cent of schools insisting on a hat today.

Short trousers are becoming less popular at primary level with more than three in five schools preferring long trousers and the pinafore dress is also falling out of favour.

Previous education research has shown results improve with a strictly enforced uniform policy.

Matthew Easter, from Trutex, said: ‘Years ago we were seeing a lot more polo shirts and sweatshirts but that has definitely changed. Having a dress code acts as a social leveller and makes it easier for children to integrate with each other. It also improves the image of the school outside the school gate.’